An experimental study has been performed to investigate the heat and mass transfer performance in a falling film absorber of a small-sized absorption chiller/heater. The components of the chiller/heater were concentrically arranged in a cylindrical form with a low temperature generator, an absorber and an evaporator from the center. The arrangement of such a helical-type heat exchanger makes the system more compact compared to a conventional one. As a working fluid, LiBr + LiI + LiNO3 + LiCl solution is used to get improved heat transfer effect. The heat and mass transfer coefficients of the helical absorber provide similar values compared with the data obtained for horizontal absorbers at similar solution flow rates. The heat and mass transfer coefficients of LiBr + LiI + LiNO3 + LiCl solution increase as the solution flow rate per unit length increases. However, if the solution flow rate is larger than 0.03 kg/m s, the heat and mass transfer increase is minimal. Thus, 0.03 kg/m s is recommended as an optimal solution flow rate. The heat and mass flux performance of LiBr + LiI + LiNO3 + LiCl solution shows the tendency of 2-5% increase compared with that of LiBr solution. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.